*WILLIAMSBURG: St. Stanislaus Kostka (Greenpoint in Brooklyn)

Address: 607 Humboldt St.
Phone: 718.388.0170
Weekend Mass Times: 
Sat: 5:30pm (English), 7pm (Polish)
Sun: Polish - 7:30am, 10:15am, 11:30am, 1pm, 8pm
Sun: English - 9am, 11am

Weekday Mass Times (all Polish except where noted): 

Mon: 6:30am, 7am, 8am (English), 9am, 7pm (English)
Tue-Sat: 6:30am, 7am, 8am (English), 7pm
Miraculous Medal Novena: Monday 7pm
Matki Bozej od Cudownego Medalika: Monday 9am
Matki Bozej Nieustajacej Pomocy: Wednesday 7pm
Koronka do Milosierdzia Bozego: Friday 7:30pm
Confession: 
Mon-Sat: 7am-8am
Sat: 4pm-5:25pm, 6:30pm-7:30pm
First Friday: 6pm-8pm

St. Stanislaus
NY Times article about the neighborhood
Solemn Mass for President Kaczyński

I know, I know, I already did a Brooklyn church and Williamsburg certainly isn't it's own borough, and this church isn't even in Williamsburg, it's in Greenpoint. To me, Williamsburg is it's own distinct destination, different from mainland Brooklyn, kind of a magical, easy to get to, always sweet bars and music venues, it is a strange land, hipsterville, Brooklyn improper— Billyburg. And thus my reasoning to include it in these final posts.

St. Stanislaus Kostka in Greenpoint is a very pretty church and an experience to go to Mass there. The only unfortunate thing is I believe all the Polish Masses are held in the main (beautiful gorgeous) church, and all English Masses are celebrated down below in the (not nearly so nice) basement chapel. When I arrived for the 11am English service I noticed a Mass already in progress upstairs and what looked like English speakers headed downstairs. So I went downstairs too. Having trouble paying attention, I kept trying to figure out how I was going to get pictures of the main church upstairs without interrupting Mass in progress.

As soon as the English Liturgy of the Word concluded, I left my pew and headed upstairs. Polish Mass was over, the 11:30am yet to begin so I quickly walked around snapping photos, journeying up to the balcony, trying to capture the intensity of the decor as best I could. The rosary was being said in Polish which added to the exoticness of the experience.

Finishing photographing, I descended again into the English basement and continued participating in the Eucharist, trying to pray and be silent. But this was, once again, one of those church exploits where I had distracted myself too much and couldn't get into my holy groove.

An insight a friend has given to me recently: we go to church, pray daily, obey the commandments, pray rosaries, celebrate church feasts, and etc. not to be holier than thou or thou or thou, or to be able to say we are obedient, or because these activities are what we will be judged on, but to keep God as a front and center focus of our lives, to not let the world distract us from God, to not go or be away from God.

Some images from the basement...

88. St. Stanislaus (Now St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr Roman Catholic Church)

(mass times & church info last updated 04/24/2016)
Address: 101 E. 7th St.
Phone: 212.475.4576
Weekend Mass Times: 
Sat: 7pm (English), 8pm (Polish)
Sun: 8am (Polish), 9am (English), 10:30am, 12pm (both Polish)
Weekday Mass Times: 
Mon-Fri: 8am, 6pm (both Polish)
Sat: 8am (Polish)
Confession:
Sat: 6pm
Sun: before each Mass
1st Fridays: 5pm
and upon request
Rosary: Sun: 11:30am
Chaplet of Divine Mercy: Mondays: 6pm
Devotion to St. John Paul II: Tuesdays: 6pm
Devotion to Our Lady of Czestochowa: Wednesdays: 6pm
Other Devotions & Services: contact the church for more info
Church Constructed: 1900-1901
Links:
Official Website
Flickr
Slavs of New York
Wikipedia: St. Stanislaus

ASH WEDNESDAY

Today, for Ash Wednesday services, at 12pm I attended the very Polish parish of St. Stanislaus on east 7th street. I had attended this church once before about three years ago for a Saturday vigil Mass, and now having visited it "officially" and posting about it here, the remaining eight or so churches left on my list will be all new to me, unexplored sanctuaries.

Another season of Lent begins, and I've chosen to give up boozing once again. Third year in a row. I try to explain to people why: that it is a big sacrifice to someone like me, my age, and that it really helps bring the message of Lent home to me, as well as realize the zealous celebration of Easter once it finally comes, but I'm not sure I can ever truly relate my meanings. It is better practiced than taught, experienced than discussed.

The priest today, during his sermon, said: "Lent is a time to let go of sin, and leave it behind." I pray I can do this successfully this year. Sin follows me around like a cloud. A storm I cannot escape. Doom itself.

My girlfriend asked me what the real meaning of Ash Wednesday is, and I tried to expain: the ashes symbolize that we came from dust and ash and it is to that we will return. That the ashes are the burned remains of last Easter's palms and that it is all a symbol and metaphor for death and rebirth. After further formal research, I realize what I should have told her is...

"Ash Wednesday is a day of repentance and it marks the beginning of Lent. Ashes were used in ancient times, according to the Bible, to express mourning. Dusting oneself with ashes was the penitent's way of expressing sorrow for sins and faults. An ancient example of one expressing one's penitence is found in Job 42:3-6. Job says to God: "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. The other eye wandereth of its own accord. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."...Ezekiel 9 also speaks of a linen-clad messenger marking the forehead of the city inhabitants that have sorrow over the sins of the people. All those without the mark are destroyed."

(thank you Wikipedia!)